Tear-open pouch

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a tear-open pouch ( 110 ) comprising a front face of the tear-open pouch ( 126 ) defined by an outer edge and a rear face of the tear-open pouch defined by an outer edge, the outer edges thereof being joined together in at least one join outer edge region of the tear-open pouch ( 110 ), a starting point for a predetermined tear-line (R 1 , R 2 ) being provided in such a join outer edge region. The front face of the tear-open pouch ( 126 ) and the rear face of the tear-open pouch are also joined together at least in portions in an inner region surface portion ( 130 ) arranged spaced apart from the outer edges thereof. The inner region surface portion ( 130 ) defines a predetermined tear-line deflection point, in which the tear-line (R 1 , R 2 ) is deflected, in order to terminate in a tear-line end point provided in a join outer edge region of the tear-open pouch ( 110 ), the tear-line (R 1 , R 2 ) extending between the tear-line starting point and the inner region surface portion ( 130 ) or/and between the inner region surface portion ( 130 ) and the tear-line end point through surface portions of the tear-open pouch ( 110 ) which are not joined together.

The invention relates to a tear-open pouch comprising a front face ofthe tear-open pouch defined by an outer edge and a rear face of thetear-open pouch defined by an outer edge, the outer edges thereof beingjoined together in at least one join outer edge region of the tear-openpouch, a starting point for a predetermined tear-line being provided insuch a join outer edge region.

Nowadays tear-open pouches are used as packaging in large numbers inquite different embodiments and are also becoming increasingly popular,not least because pouches, in comparison with other types of packaging,generally have a relatively low weight and may be disposed of againafter use relatively easily in an environmentally acceptable manner.Particularly often, tear-open pouches are used for packaging easilyperishable goods, such as foodstuffs, for example potato crisps, soupsor other meals, or pet food.

Different production variants of tear-open pouches are known, inparticular as regards joining the front face of the tear-open pouch andthe rear face of the tear-open pouch. Thus in a first variant the frontface of the tear-open pouch and the rear face of the tear-open pouch maybe for example surface portions of a pouch blank which merge with oneanother into one piece, said pouch blank being formed from a tube whichis seamless over the entire periphery around a pouch axis by cutting thetube to length. According to a second variant, however, the two sidesmay also be surface portions of a pouch blank which merge with oneanother into one piece on one edge, the edges of the pouch blank beingjoined together at least in portions to form a tubular semi finishedproduct which is open at the longitudinal ends. Further, in a thirdvariant the two sides may also be blanks formed separately from oneanother, the edges thereof being joined together at least in portions toform a tubular semi finished product which is open at the longitudinalends. As a fourth variant in this list given by way of example, the twosides may also be surface portions of a stand up pouch blank joinedtogether in one piece via an integral base portion, it being possible toproduce a semi finished product of the stand up pouch which is open atits upper longitudinal end by folding and joining the side edges.

In the variants set forth above by way of example, edges which areassigned to the respective longitudinal end may be joined together toclose the open longitudinal ends and/or the open longitudinal end of thesemi finished product to form a closed pouch volume. Thus to form astand up pouch, optionally a separately formed stand up pouch blank mayalso be inserted into the relevant longitudinal end.

For joining surface portions or/and edge portions of the semi finishedproduct, any established joining techniques may be used, for exampleadhesive bonding and welding. In particular in the field of tear-openpouches which contain foodstuffs, pet food or similar perishable goods,the formation of the join by thermal welding, in particular by forming asealing seam, is preferred. It should be emphasised at this point,however, that two surface portions which merge with one another into onepiece are also “joined together” in the sense of the present invention.

As the above mentioned tear-open pouch has a starting point for apredetermined tear-line on a join outer edge region, it is possible toopen the tear-open pouch simply by tearing open, i.e. without furtheraids, for example scissors or a knife, in order to reach the pouchcontents in a simple manner. So that the tear-open pouch is not tornopen in an uncontrolled manner but along the tear-line, which preferablyextends in a substantially linear manner, it is known from the prior artthat the material from which the tear-open pouch is made has a preferredtear-open direction.

A tear-open pouch of the aforementioned type is, for example, disclosedin DE 20 2004 016 420 U1 of the applicant, the tear-open pouch beingformed as a tear-open stand up pouch, a unidirectionally stretched filmbeing used for the manufacture thereof. As a result of the stretching,the molecule chains in the film are aligned substantially parallel tothe stretching direction, as a result of which the material has obtaineda preferred ability to be separated in this stretching direction. Thus,the tear-open stand up pouch may be torn open relatively easily in alinear manner in the stretching direction, in order to detach a definedtop portion from the remaining tear-open pouch.

A drawback with such tear-open pouches, however, is that inevitably avery large opening is produced when, for opening the tear-open pouch, atop portion which may be torn off is torn off the remaining tear-openpouch. Firstly, the quantity of contents poured out of the tear-openpouch may be poorly dispensed through such a large opening. Accuratedispensing is, however, important, for example when the tear-open pouchis intended to function as a type of “salt cellar”, this term merelybeing intended to emphasise the desired accuracy of dispensing, or if itis not intended to be completely emptied. Secondly, a large opening mayonly be resealed with difficulty, which is always of particularimportance when the tear-open pouch which has been only in portionsemptied is to be stowed away again. Further, there are other cases whereit is advantageous for the user to be able to introduce into thetear-open pouch in a simple manner an opening of predetermined size, inparticular of small size compared with the opening cross section whichmay be achieved by completely tearing off the top portion. This may, forexample, be the case when steam which is produced when heating up thepouch contents, for example in a microwave heating device, is intendedto be able to escape from the tear-open pouch. The opening requiredtherefor should, however, preferably be sufficiently small so that thepouch contents to be heated up, for example a soup to be brought toboiling point, cannot escape and/or spray in an uncontrolled manner outof the tear-open pouch.

Even in conventional tear-open pouches there is the possibility of notcompletely tearing open the tear-open pouch, i.e. not detaching butsimply tearing the top portion, but this is frequently a drawback.Firstly, it may arise that the top portion, which can be torn off, getsin the way when it is still in portions connected to the remainingtear-open pouch, when the pouch contents are emptied. Secondly, for theuser it is generally difficult to tear the tear-open pouch sufficientlyaccurately that an opening of the desired size is produced.

To solve this object, a tear-open pouch of the aforementioned type hasalready been proposed, which is described hereinafter in more detailwith reference to FIG. 4. This tear-open pouch 10′ is a so-calledtubular pouch, as it is formed from a film with a tubular base body. Anupper and a lower longitudinal end of the pouch are sealed in each caseby a sealing seam 12′ and/or 14′ extending transversely to a centre axisM′ of the tubular base body. The sealing seams 12′ and/or 14′ which areindicated in FIG. 4 in each case by a plurality of slightly wavy lines,are produced in this case by thermal welding of the corresponding filmportions. Further, the tear-open pouch 10′ has on its side edge 18′ atear-line starting point 20′ which is indicated to the user by a smallmarking and/or notch. Thus the user may easily detach a top portion 24′from the remaining tear-open pouch 10′ along a tear-line R′ indicated bya dashed dotted line. These features described above may be found invery many known tear-open pouches.

It is a particularity of the present tear-open pouch 10′, however, thatdirectly below the upper sealing seam 12′, a further sealing seam 22′adjoins said upper sealing seam and does not extend, as the uppersealing seam 12′ does, over the entire width B′ of the tear-open pouch10′ but only over a partial region T′. The further sealing seam 22′ thusstarts from the side edge 18′ and encompasses at that point thetear-line starting point 20′. As, therefore, a portion of thepredetermined tear-line R′ is located in the further sealing seam 22′,the tear-open pouch 10′ is not opened over its entire width B′ when thetop portion 24′ is detached. Instead, only a relatively small opening isformed, the length O′ thereof corresponding to the width B′ of thetear-open pouch 10′ minus the length T′ of the further sealing seam 22′.

A drawback with this tear-open pouch 10′ is, however, that for formingthe opening of the width O′ a relatively large amount of film materialhas to be provided, since the entire top portion 24′ has to be torn offto form this opening. As tear-open pouches are generally mass producedindustrial products, this increased demand for film leads tosignificantly higher production costs overall and additionalenvironmental pollution.

It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide atear-open pouch of the aforementioned type, which makes it possible inan alternative manner to introduce an opening of predetermined sizetherein, which is smaller than a maximum opening which may be achievedby completely tearing off a top portion from a conventional pouch.

This object is achieved according to a first feature of the presentinvention by a tear-open pouch of the aforementioned type, in which thefront face of the tear-open pouch and the rear face of the tear-openpouch are also joined together at least in portions in an inner regionsurface portion arranged spaced apart from the outer edges thereof andin which the inner region surface portion defines a predeterminedtear-line end point, in which the tear-line terminates, the tear-lineextending between the tear-line starting point and the inner regionsurface portion through surface portions of the tear-open pouch whichare not joined together.

In other words, this means that when tearing open the tear-open pouch,the tear may no longer extend from the tear-line starting point, whichis provided in a join outer edge region of the tear-open pouch, as faras a join outer edge region opposing the tear-line starting point in thedirection of the predetermined tear-line, but the tear is stopped aftera predetermined distance on the path thereto by means of the tear-lineend point defined in the inner region surface portion. Nevertheless, inorder to continue the tear in the direction of the predeterminedtear-line beyond the tear-line end point of the inner region surfaceportion, a significantly greater exertion of force is required than fortearing open as far as the tear-line end point.

Because the tear-open pouch, therefore, is only torn open along thepredetermined tear-line between the tear-line starting point and thetear-line end point defined by the inner region surface portion, thefront face of the tear-open pouch and the rear face of the tear-openpouch being joined together at the join outer edge portion comprisingthe tear-line starting point and at the inner region surface portion butnot in the surface portions therebetween, an opening of preciselypredetermined size may be introduced in a simple manner into thetear-open pouch.

According to the first feature of the present invention, therefore, thetorn top portion of the tear-open pouch stays on the remaining tear-openpouch. This may be acceptable particularly in cases when the openingproduced in this manner is not intended to be used for emptying theactual pouch contents but for other purposes, such as for allowing theescape of steam. When the torn top portion stays on the remainingtear-open pouch, this additionally has the advantage that fewerindividual items of refuse are produced, and this simplifies disposal.

If, however, it is considered inconvenient that the torn top portionstays on the remaining tear-open pouch, for example because the actualpouch contents are intended to be emptied through the opening achievedin this manner, it is proposed according to a second feature of thepresent invention, by which the above mentioned object is also achieved,that the front face of the tear-open pouch and the rear face of thetear-open pouch are also joined together at least in portions in aninner region surface portion arranged spaced apart from the outer edgesthereof and the inner region surface portion defines a predeterminedtear-line deflection point, in which the tear-line is deflected, inorder to terminate in a tear-line end point provided in a join outeredge region of the tear-open pouch, the tear-line extending between thetear-line starting point and the inner region surface portion or/andbetween the inner region surface portion and the tear-line end pointthrough surface portions of the tear-open pouch which are not joinedtogether.

The tear-line extending from the tear-line starting point, for examplein a substantially linear manner, is thus deflected at the tear-linedeflection point defined by the inner region surface portion in apredetermined different tear-line spreading direction, in order toextend in turn in a substantially linear manner, for example, as far asa join outer edge region of the tear-open pouch. Should the user attemptto continue the tear at the tear-line deflection point in a directionwhich does not correspond to the desired other tear-line spreadingdirection, the user would require a significantly greater exertion offorce therefor than for tearing along the desired tear-line. Thespecific design of the tear-open pouch means that the tear introduced bythe user with a corresponding exertion of force by the user follows thedirection of the least resistance, predetermined by the tear-linedeflection point.

At least the two tear-line portions starting from the tear-linedeflection point form an angle, preferably a right angle. For improvedtear guidance, the designated tear-line portions at the tear-linedeflection point are preferably joined together by a deflection pointwhich has a curved shape, particularly preferably without corners.

As the tear-line extends between the tear-line starting point and theinner region surface portion or/and between the inner region surfaceportion and the tear-line end point through surface portions of thetear-open pouch not joined together, when detaching such a portion fromthe tear-open pouch one or more openings of specifically predeterminedsize is and/or are produced on the tear-open pouch.

In order to be able to achieve a ratio which is as advantageous aspossible between the quantity of film material required, on the onehand, and the pouch volume which may be enclosed thereby, on the otherhand, in a development of both features of the invention it is proposedthat the inner region surface portion is of insular configuration, beingsurrounded all around by surface portions of the tear-open pouch whichare not joined together. Thus only the inner region surface portionitself is not available to enclose the contents of a pouch whilst thesurface portions surrounding said inner region surface portion are able,in principle, to enclose the contents of the pouch.

With regard to the second feature of the invention, it should bementioned that the insular solution disclosed here has the result thatat least two openings are produced when the portion is torn off from thetear-open pouch. If, however, only one opening is desired, it isalternatively proposed that the inner region surface portion is ofpeninsular configuration, in that a web portion of surface portions ofthe tear-open pouch which are joined together, i.e. surface portions ofthe front face of the tear-open pouch and the rear face of the tear-openpouch which are joined together, extends from the inner region surfaceportion to a join outer edge region of the tear-open pouch. If eitherthe predetermined tear-line extends between the tear-line starting pointand the inner region surface portion or the predetermined tear-lineextends between the inner region surface portion and the tear-line endpoint entirely in the web portion, in which the front face of thetear-open pouch is joined to the rear face of the tear-open pouch, noopening is produced in this portion of the tear-line. It should bementioned here that this peninsular solution may also be used incombination with the first feature of the invention, for example forproduction reasons, in which case the tear-line between the tear-linestarting point and the inner region surface portion does not extend inthe web portion, as otherwise an opening could not be introduced intothe tear-open pouch.

With regard to the second feature of the invention, it should also bementioned that in the web portion at least one region surrounded by theweb portion may also be provided which has a material weakening, forexample in the form of a stamped portion or recess or/and no material atall, for example in the form of a through opening, so that the tearguidance is simplified along a predetermined tear-line extending in theweb portion. In particular, in the web portion a linear perforationor/and a linear cut-out, introduced for example by a laser, may beprovided in the film material in order to form the predeterminedtear-line extending in the web portion.

So that the inner region surface portion may reliably define a tear-lineend point and/or a tear-line deflection point, it is further proposedthat the inner region surface portion comprises at least one firstpartial surface portion and one second partial surface portion whichhave tear spreading properties which are different from one another.Thus, in particular, it is conceivable that, when torn open, the secondpartial surface portion has a markedly lower resistance relative to thefirst partial surface portion.

A markedly lower tear resistance in the second partial surface portionrelative to the first partial surface portion may, for example, beadvantageously achieved by the second partial surface portion comprisinga material weakening in the front face of the tear-open pouch or/and inthe rear face of the tear-open pouch. Amongst other things, it is to thecredit of the inventor to have identified that the notch effect which isessential for spreading the tear may be influenced by a suitable designof the aforementioned material weakening and the arrangement thereof inthe predetermined tear-line, in particular significantly reduced or evencompletely eliminated. The notch effect, due to the concentration ofstress in the tip of the notch, namely makes it possible to achieve atear and/or to continue a tear with relatively little force. Thus bymeans of the design and arrangement of the material weakening, acontinuation of a tear in the tearing direction leading to the materialweakening may be considerably more difficult beyond the materialweakening (tear-line end point) or a tear may be deflected at thelocation of the material weakening from one tear-line direction intoanother (tear-line deflection point).

It may be advantageous if the material weakening in the second partialsurface portion is of planar configuration. As a result, a user tearingopen the tear-open pouch for example may easily identify haptically andpossibly also visually when the tear reaches the material weakening inthe second partial surface portion. The haptic detection of the materialweakening allows the user, in particular, to identify that at least alinear continuation of the tear is not possible beyond the materialweakening in the second partial surface portion or is only possible byan increased exertion of force. The planar material weakening in thesecond partial surface portion may thus extend over the entire secondpartial surface portion, and/or in other words the second partialsurface portion may be defined in a congruent manner with the planarmaterial weakening. For example, the planar material weakening may beeasily produced by puncturing the material, the tool used therefor, suchas a type of needle, preferably having a preferably conical shapeincreasing in diameter in the longitudinal direction, so that whenpuncturing the material with the tool, the hole may be correspondinglywidened according to how far the tool is pushed through the material.

Alternatively, however, it is also possible for the material weakeningto be formed in a linear manner in the second partial surface portion.Thus, for example, it may simply be a linear cut-out or through opening,in particular, in the material of the front face of the tear-open pouchor/and rear face of the tear-open pouch, which may be produced veryeasily in terms of production. Additionally, forming a linear materialweakening generally requires less material than a planar materialweakening, which makes the tear-open pouch more economical. It shouldalso be mentioned here that in the case of a material weakening formedin a linear manner, the second partial surface portion may be definedcorrespondingly so that it completely surrounds the linear materialweakening.

As advantageous shapes for the material weakening in the second partialsurface portion it is proposed, for example, that said materialweakening may be configured in a substantially circular or semi-circularor crescent-shaped or L-shaped or linear manner. In shapes which have apath which may be substantially continuously differentiated, i.e. nosharp corners or the like, there is generally no point at which aparticular concentration of stress may occur in the material, so that inthe absence of the notch effect a further spreading of the tear isprevented or at least made considerably more difficult. In particular,in this connection circular or approximately circular, oval shapes aresuitable. Such shapes are thus suitable, in particular, for cases wherethe inner region surface portion is intended to define a tear-line endpoint. However, frequently it is also sufficient if the materialweakening in the second partial surface portion is free of sharp cornersor the like on one side, which opposes the point at which the tearreaches the material weakening in the second partial surface portion.For example, a substantially linear, approximately straight longitudinalcut may be sufficient, in which material is displaced in the front faceof the tear-open pouch and the rear face of the tear-open pouch byrelinquishing the material connection. In order to achieve the desiredstop or deflection effect, however, the longitudinal cut should as faras possible not be formed in the direction of the path of the tearreaching the material weakening in the second partial surface portion,but instead at an angle, preferably perpendicular thereto.

It may also be conceivable for the material weakening in the secondpartial surface portion to be formed by the removal of material on thefront face of the tear-open pouch or/and the rear face of the tear-openpouch. For example, such a removal may be achieved in a simple manner bystamping out or cutting out the material. A drawback with this is,however, that the material removed from the tear-open pouch couldaccidentally enter the tear-open pouch interior, where it may lead tocontamination of the pouch contents. Even when this may be reliablyprevented by corresponding expenditure in terms of production, theremoved material still generally leads to an undesirable disposal cost.

For this reason, it is generally preferred as an alternative to theremoval of material, if the material weakening in the second partialsurface portion is formed, preferably exclusively, by a displacement ofmaterial of the front face of the tear-open pouch or/and the rear faceof the tear-open pouch. Such a displacement of material may, forexample, be carried out by a preferably linear cut (slit) for example bymeans of a blade or/and by punctuation (perforation) of the material,for example by the aforementioned needle or the like, or/and bystamping. The advantage relative to the removal of material is thus thatno pieces of refuse are produced separately from the remaining tear-openpouch.

The embodiments cited as preferred for material weakening in the secondpartial portion, cutting and punctuation, may in principle only extendin the thickness direction of the front face of the tear-open pouch andthe rear face of the tear-open pouch (depth direction) over one part ofthe respective material thickness, so as not to compromise the integrityof the unopened pouch. In order to increase the stop and/or deflectioneffect of the material weakening, it is however advantageous if thematerial weakening in the second partial surface portion penetrates thefront face of the tear-open pouch or/and the rear face of the tear-openpouch, preferably the front face of the tear-open pouch and the rearface of the tear-open pouch. If the material weakening is namely athrough hole, for example a hole or a longitudinal cut in which materialhas been displaced in the front face of the tear-open pouch and the rearface of the tear-open pouch by relinquishing the material connection, atear which spreads as a result of the notch effect may not overcome thematerial weakening due to the relinquished material connection.

If the pouch contains, for example, foodstuffs, pet food or similarperishable contents, and in particular when the second partial surfaceportion comprises a through opening, for example a cut or apunctuation,it is then ensured by means of the first partial surface portion thatthe tear-open pouch remains tightly closed until actually torn open, ifthe second partial surface portion is surrounded at least in portions,preferably entirely, by the first partial surface portion. Thus, inparticular, it is conceivable that the front face of the tear-open pouchand the rear face of the tear-open pouch are joined together in thefirst partial surface portion, so that in a state in which it is nottorn open, the pouch is securely closed even in the region of the innerregion surface portion.

When opening the tear-open pouch, if the second surface portion isentirely surrounded by the first surface portion, the tear originatingfrom the tear-line starting point and following the predeterminedtear-line initially strikes the outer, first partial surface portion inthe inner region surface portion. The tear which spreads further thenenters the inner, second partial surface portion which has a lowertear-open resistance compared with the first partial surface portion,for example by means of a material weakening.

If the inner region surface portion is intended to define a tear-linedeflection point, it is advantageous if the second partial surfaceportion has a tear-line continuation point. Such a tear-linecontinuation point is advantageously formed by a point on the materialweakening in the second partial surface portion at which a considerableconcentration of stress may occur, for example by a sharp corner, whichis formed on a through opening, or the like. As a result, with asuitable configuration and orientation of the material weakening thetear-line may be reliably deflected in the inner region surface portion.

If the material weakening has, for example, been introduced by a linearcut in the material, a tear-line deflection point in the inner regionsurface portion may be defined in a simple manner by at least onelongitudinal end of the cut, preferably just one longitudinal end, beingconfigured to taper to a point, so that a high concentration of stressmay be achieved there. A tear which reaches the material weakening inthe second partial surface portion, i.e. in this case the longitudinalcut, may then easily be continued at the at least one longitudinal endwhich tapers to a point and namely preferably in a different directionfrom before it reached the longitudinal cut. The longitudinal cut may beformed, but does not have to be formed, in a linear manner. It may also,for example, have an L shape.

If, however, the inner region surface portion is intended to serve as atear-line end point, and if the material weakening is formed by a linearlongitudinal cut, preferably the two longitudinal ends of the cut areconfigured to be rounded, for example by means of a corresponding choiceof cutting tool, in order, compared with a non rounded end, to have areduced notch effect and in order, therefore, to make it difficult forthe tear to spread further at the longitudinal ends. For this purpose,the cutting tool may be formed approximately in the manner of a blade,the blade tip used for perforation having a relatively sharp edge andthe edge becoming increasingly blunt, i.e. round, the further away it isfrom the blade tip.

In order to indicate to the user where the tearing should begin in thejoin outer edge region of the tear-open pouch, and in order to simplifythe tearing for the user, it is further proposed that the tear-linestarting point is formed by a tearing aid. For example a notch, astamped portion or the like may serve as a tearing aid. In principle,however, it is also conceivable for the tear-line starting point to bedisplayed purely visually, for example by a corresponding printedportion on the tear-open pouch, preferably on the outer face thereof. Inthe event that the inner region surface portion defines a predeterminedtear-line deflection point, and thus a tear-line end point is present,it may be advantageous to also provide the tear-line end point with sucha tearing aid, so that said tearing aid may optionally also serve as atear-line starting point. Moreover, provided it is present, thetear-line continuation point may also have such a tearing aid.

In order to provide that the tear does not extend in an uncontrolledmanner but follows the predetermined tear-line, it is further proposed,as already known per se from the prior art, that the front face of thetear-open pouch or/and the rear face of the tear-open pouch a) comprisesand/or comprise a film made of stretched plastics material, thestretching direction of the plastics film defining a preferred directionof the spreading of the tear or/and b) comprises and/or comprise atleast one material weakening, in particular stamped portion or recess,extending in a preferred direction of the spreading of the tear. For thestretched plastics film, unidirectionally or bidirectionally stretchedfilms are suitable, in particular. In bidirectionally stretched films,one of the two stretching directions may encourage tearing along thetear-line between the tear-line starting point and inner region surfaceportion, whereas the other of the two stretching directions mayencourage tearing along the tear-line between the inner region surfaceportion and the tear-line end point, provided the inner region surfaceportion defines a tear-line deflection point.

In particular, in the case where the tear-open pouch is intended to beused in order to heat up the pouch contents, for example in a microwaveheating device, it may be advantageous if the tear-open pouch comprisesat least two inner region surface portions, which are assigned to edgeportions spaced apart from one another and preferably opposing oneanother. In this manner, it may be provided that steam can escaperelatively uniformly from the tear-open pouch through a plurality ofopenings which may be introduced into the tear-open pouch by tearing, sothat the risk of excess pressure in the tear-open pouch does not occuranywhere.

In this case, the predetermined openings, through which the steam isintended to be able to escape when heating up the pouch contents, maypreferably be small compared with the width of the top portion of thetear-open pouch, so that during heating only the steam is able to leavethe pouch contents, rather than a portion of the actual pouch contentsto be heated up, for example a soup to be brought to boiling point.

So that it can nevertheless be made possible to empty the pouch contentssubsequently in a simple manner, it is proposed that the tear-open pouchalso comprises at a further join outer edge region at least one furthertear-line starting point, which serves for tearing off a top portion ofthe tear-open pouch, the top portion which may be torn off preferablycomprising the inner region surface portion and/or the at least twoinner region surface portions. Thus, if desired, bulkier material may beeasily emptied from the pouch.

In a development of the invention it is proposed that the tear-openpouch according to the invention is made from a material which issuitable for use in a microwave heating device. Thus the material of thetear-open pouch should be free of metal as far as possible and not ableto be heated up by the microwave radiation itself. However, the materialhas to be able to withstand safely the temperatures to which the pouchcontents are brought when heated up, without suffering damage.

With regard to the heating of foodstuffs in a tear-open pouch which arepourable or very easy to dispense, according to the invention it isadvantageous if said tear-open pouch is a stand up pouch. With asecurely upright stand up pouch, the risk is reduced of the pouchcontents flowing out inadvertently when at least one opening isintroduced in the region of the upper top portion of the pouch bytearing open.

Moreover, according to a third feature, the invention relates to the useof a tear-open pouch according to the invention, in particular a standup pouch according to the invention, for heating up meals, in particularin a microwave heating device. This avoids the effort of transferringthe pouch contents into a different container in which the pouchcontents would otherwise have to be heated. Furthermore, the washing-upnecessary for cleaning such a container is also dispensed with, whichsaves time and water, in particular. A warm meal may thus be preparedrapidly and easily.

At this point it should be added that both at least one first innerregion surface portion, which according to the first feature of theinvention defines a tear-line end point, and at least one second innerregion surface portion, which according to the second aspect of theinvention defines a tear-line deflection point, may naturally also beprovided on a tear-open pouch according to the invention. Thus thetear-open pouch, for example before heating up its contents in amicrowave heating device, could be torn as far as the tear-line endpoint in the at least one first inner region surface portion, so thatthrough the first opening produced thereby steam may escape from thetear-open pouch when the pouch contents are heated up. Subsequently, aportion of the tear-open pouch could then be torn off by means of thetear-line deflection point in the at least one second inner regionsurface portion, in order to empty the heated pouch contents easily outof the tear-open pouch through the second opening produced thereby.Preferably, therefore, the first opening is spaced apart from the secondopening so that, when emptying the pouch contents through the secondopening, at the same time air may flow into the tear-open pouch throughthe first opening, whereby it is possible for the substantially liquidpouch contents to be poured out uniformly without a “slopping effect”.

The present invention is described in more detail hereinafter withreference to the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of atear-open pouch according to the invention, in which an inner regionsurface portion defines a tear-line end point;

FIG. 2 shows a view similar to FIG. 1 of a second embodiment of atear-open pouch according to the invention, in which an inner regionsurface portion defines a tear-line deflection point;

FIG. 3 a shows a detail of the tear-open pouch according to theinvention shown in FIG. 1 according to a first modification;

FIG. 3 b shows a detail of the tear-open pouch according to theinvention shown in FIG. 1 according to a second modification;

FIG. 3 c shows a detail of the tear-open pouch according to theinvention shown in FIG. 1 according to a third modification;

FIG. 3 d shows a detail of the tear-open pouch according to theinvention shown in FIG. 2 according to a first modification;

FIG. 3 e shows a detail of the tear-open pouch according to theinvention shown in FIG. 2 according to a second modification;

FIG. 3 f shows a detail of the tear-open pouch according to theinvention shown in FIG. 2 according to a third modification;

FIG. 3 g shows an enlarged detail of the tear-open pouch according tothe invention shown in FIG. 1 according to a fourth modification; and

FIG. 4 shows a tear-open pouch of the prior art.

In FIG. 1 a first embodiment of a tear-open pouch according to theinvention is denoted generally by 10. The tear-open pouch 10 is a standup pouch which, in addition to a front face of the tear-open pouch 26and a rear face of the tear-open pouch, not shown, also comprises afurther, not shown, tear-open pouch base. The front face of thetear-open pouch 26 and the rear face of the tear-open pouch are definedby an outer edge in each case, a first side edge 16, a second side edge18 spaced apart therefrom and a top edge 28 of the front face of thetear-open pouch which extends between the side edges 16, 18 being joinedto corresponding edges of the rear face of the tear-open pouch in a joinouter edge region. The aforementioned edges are in this case joinedtogether in the join outer edge region, preferably by a sealing seam 12.In their lower region, however, the front face of the tear-open pouch 26and the rear face of the tear-open pouch are preferably joined by asealing seam to the tear-open pouch base.

The front face of the tear-open pouch 26 and the rear face of thetear-open pouch are further joined together at least in portions on twoinner region surface portions 30. As the two inner region surfaceportions 30 shown in FIG. 1 are formed substantially identically, onlythe inner region surface portion 30 shown in FIG. 1 to the left will bedescribed in the following. Said inner region surface portion comprisesan outer first partial surface portion 32 configured in an annularmanner and a second partial surface portion 34 completely surrounded bythe first partial surface portion 32 and of circular configuration. Inthe region of the first partial surface portion 32, the front face ofthe tear-open pouch 26 and the rear face of the tear-open pouch, asdescribed above, are joined together, for example by welding. In theregion of the second partial portion 34, the front face of the tear-openpouch 26 and the rear face of the tear-open pouch, however, have athrough opening.

Reference should be made at this point to the fact that the tear-openpouch 10 may also comprise just one single inner region surface portion30. This applies equally to the embodiments and/or modifications to bedescribed further hereinafter.

A tearing aid 36 in the form of a notch is provided in the region of thefirst side edge 16 on the join outer edge portion of the tear-open pouch10, and indicates to the user where the tear-line starting point islocated and at the same time considerably simplifies the tearing processfor the user, due to the notch effect. The front face of the tear-openpouch 26 and the rear face of the tear-open pouch both preferablycomprise a film, which is stretched unidirectionally in a stretchingdirection S. As the molecule chains are aligned substantially parallelto the stretching direction S when stretching the film, the material hasa preferential ability to separate in this stretching direction S.Therefore, when the tear-open pouch 10 is torn open at the tearing aid36, a tear extends substantially parallel to the stretching direction Salong a tear-line R. After a short distance, when tearing open thetear-open pouch 10, the tear starting from the tearing aid 36 leaves thejoin outer edge region, in which the front face of the tear-open pouch26 is joined to the rear face of the tear-open pouch, in order to entera region in which these two sides are not joined together.

After the tear in this region has covered the distance O, it initiallyenters the first partial surface portion 32, following the tear-line R,and then enters further into the second partial surface portion 34 ofthe inner region surface portion 30. As already mentioned above, thesecond partial surface portion 34 has a material weakening in the formof a circular hole, the hole in this case making up the entire secondpartial surface portion 34. Due to the circular shape, the materialweakening which is of planar configuration in the present case in thesecond partial surface portion 34 has across its entire circumference asubstantially constant, continuously differentiable radius of curvature,no further notch or the like being provided in particular in theextension of the tear-line R on the edge of the material weakening ofthe second partial surface portion 34, so that further tearing is notpossible or only possible by a substantially greater exertion of forcerelative to tearing open along the tear-line R. Thus the second partialsurface portion 34 of the inner region surface portion 30 and/or thematerial weakening provided therein in the form of a hole defines atear-line end point.

It is possible in a simple manner, therefore, with the above describedarrangement for a user to introduce an opening of the predeterminedlength O into the tear-open pouch 10. This small opening relative to theoverall width of the tear-open pouch 10 may be used in the presentexemplary embodiment, in particular, to allow steam to escape from thetear-open pouch 10 when the pouch contents are to be heated up in amicrowave heating device.

That which has been described above naturally also applies analogouslyto the inner region surface portion 30 shown in FIG. 1 on the right handside, which is used to introduce a further small opening ofpredetermined size into the tear-open pouch 10, so that the steam mayescape more, uniformly from the tear-open pouch 10. The openings whichmay be introduced are thus preferably small, so that when heating up thepouch contents only the steam rather than the actual pouch contents canleave the pouch. For example, a liquid such as a soup, which is heatedup to its boiling point, could easily spray through the opening if saidopening were very large.

The relatively small openings, however, are rather unsuitable foremptying the heated pouch contents, in particular because the region ofthe tear-open pouch 10 which has been torn but not torn off may get inthe way during the emptying process. Thus the first side edge 16 and thesecond side edge 18 each further comprise a respective further tearingaid 38 or 40. By means of a tear starting from this tearing aid 38and/or 40, the entire top portion 24 of the tear-open pouch 10 may bedetached therefrom. This is already known per se from the prior art.Thus the user may detach the top portion, optionally by starting to tearthe further tearing aid 38 or 40 and then continuing the tear along anoverall width tear-line G which extends parallel to the stretchingdirection S until it reaches the corresponding opposing tearing aid 40or 38. Thus an opening is produced over the entire width of thetear-open pouch 10 through which the heated pouch contents may be easilyemptied. Preferably, therefore, as shown in the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 1, the top portion 24 which may be torn off also comprises theinner region surface portion(s) 30.

Reference should be made at this point to the fact that in FIGS. 1, 2and 3 a to 3 f, only exemplary embodiments in which the materialweakenings are formed in the second partial surface portions as planarholes are shown. In these exemplary embodiments, the region of thematerial weakening in each case extends over the entire second partialsurface portion so that here the shape of the second partial surfaceportion is the same as the shape of the material weakening belongingthereto. Similarly, the material weakening may also have a substantiallynon planar design, as for example is further disclosed with regard tothe exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3 g, the second partial surfaceportion in the sense of the present invention thus being a planar regionwhich surrounds the material weakening. Moreover, it is generallypreferred but not imperative that the material weakening is formed by ahole in the material. It could as already described also extend, inprinciple, only over part of the respective material thickness, in thethickness direction of the front face of the tear-open pouch and therear face of the tear-open pouch (depth direction).

Hereinafter, possible modifications of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1are initially described with reference to FIGS. 3 a to 3 c and FIG. 3 g.FIGS. 3 a to 3 c and FIG. 3 g all show a left upper detail of thetear-open pouch 10 shown in FIG. 1, but with different modifications.These alterations and/or modifications relate, in particular accordingto a first perspective, to the shape of the second partial surfaceportion of the inner region surface portion and/or the materialweakening located therein and according to a second perspective thepresence and/or the design of a web portion. Reference should be madehere to the fact that these two perspectives are substantiallyindependent of one another and therefore may be freely combined with oneanother provided nothing to the contrary emerges from the subsequentdescription. This also applies to the modifications shown in FIGS. 3 dto 3 e, which are described further below.

Features similar to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are providedwith the same reference numerals in FIGS. 3 a to 3 c and in FIG. 3 g,but with an additional letter a, b, c or g corresponding to therespective figure. Moreover, the modifications according to FIGS. 3 a to3 c and FIG. 3 g are only described hereinafter insofar as they differfrom the embodiment according to FIG. 1, reference being expressly madehereby to the descriptions thereof.

In FIG. 3 a, in contrast to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, asecond partial surface portion 34 a of an inner region surface portion30 a is not perfectly circular but formed slightly elliptically.However, because in particular the edge portion of the second partialsurface portion 34 a, which opposes the edge portion on which a tearfollowing a tear-line Ra enters the second partial surface portion 34 a,has a relatively large radius of curvature and is free of points with astrong notch effect, and because the remaining edge portions of thesecond partial surface portion 34 a also have no points with a strongnotch effect, the tear cannot be continued beyond the second partialsurface portion 34 a, or can only be continued with an increasedexertion of force. Thus the second partial surface portion 34 a shown inFIG. 3 a is capable of defining a tear-line end point.

Further, the portion shown in FIG. 3 a of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1also differs in that a tearing aid 36 a is provided on the upper topedge 28 a and not on the first side edge 16 a, so that the tear-line Rain FIG. 3 a accordingly extends from top to bottom and not from left toright as in FIG. 1. A stretching direction Sa thus extends parallel tothe tear-line Ra in order to encourage spreading of the tear along thetear-line Ra.

In FIG. 3 b a second partial surface portion 34 b of an inner regionsurface portion 30 b is of semi circular configuration, the edge portionof the second partial surface portion 34 b which opposes the edgeportion, at which a tear following a tear-line Rb enters the secondpartial surface portion 34 b, having a uniform radius of curvature andbeing free of points with a strong notch effect. In the semi circularpartial surface portion 34 b at the two ends of the semi circle, thereare two corners which have a specific notch effect, but in order tocontinue a tear at these corners, it might be necessary to tear inapproximately the opposing direction from before, i.e. before the tearhas reached the second partial surface portion 34 b. This is, however,not intuitively obvious to someone who tears open the pouch. Thus thesecond partial surface portion 34 b shown in FIG. 3 b is also capable ofdefining a tear-line end point.

Furthermore, the portion shown in FIG. 3 b of the embodiment shown inFIG. 1 differs in that the inner region surface portion 30 b is notinsular but peninsular. A web portion 42 b in which the front face ofthe tear-open pouch and the rear face of the tear-open pouch are joinedtogether extends between the inner region surface portion 30 b and ajoin outer edge region on a first side edge 16 b. The web portion 42 bmay, for example, be advantageous if it is to be provided that theopening produced by tearing open is intended to be separated on one sidefrom the actual volume which the pouch encloses. Moreover, the design ofthe web portion 42 b in this case may also have advantages in terms ofproduction.

The arrangement of a tearing aid 36 b, the path of a tear-line Rb andthe alignment of a stretching direction Sb are substantially as in themodification described in FIG. 3 a, to which reference is made here.

In FIG. 3 c a second partial surface portion 34 c of the inner regionsurface portion 30 c is of crescent-shaped configuration. The secondpartial surface portion 34 c is thus also capable of defining atear-line end point, as in principle the same applies as in themodification with the crescent-shaped partial surface portion, which isshown in FIG. 3 b and reference is hereby made to the descriptionthereof.

As in FIG. 3 b, in the modification shown in FIG. 3 c the inner regionsurface portion 30 c is also peninsular. However, as shown in FIG. 3 c,a web portion 42 c does not extend substantially horizontally here, butsubstantially vertically, the web portion 42 c extending between theinner region surface portion 30 c and a join outer edge region on anupper top edge 28 c.

The modification shown enlarged in FIG. 3 g differs significantly fromthe first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and from all modificationsdescribed hitherto, in that the material weakening provided in the innerregion surface portion 30 g is configured to be substantially nonplanar. The material weakening has in this case a different shape fromthe second partial surface portion 34 g, which is a circular surfaceportion, as indicated in FIG. 3 g by a dotted line.

The material weakening is formed in the modification shown in FIG. 3 gby a linear cut 33 g, which is oriented substantially perpendicular tothe predetermined tear-line Rg. The cut 33 g opens at its twolongitudinal ends in each case into a substantially circular perforation35 g. The perforations 35 g, due to their edges which do not havecorners, cause the notch effect at these points to be markedly reducedcompared to the longitudinal ends of the cut 33 g, which more or lesstaper to a point, so that the inner region surface portion 30 g in thiscase may reliably serve as a tear-line end point. In the presentmodification, the material in the front face of the tear-open pouch andthe rear face of the tear-open pouch has been displaced beyond theoverall thickness at the points of the cut 33 g, for example by a bladeor the like, and the two perforations 35 g, for example by a needle orthe like, by relinquishing the material connection, so that whenincorporating the material weakening no material has been detached fromthe tear-open pouch, which otherwise could lead in some instances tocontamination of the pouch contents.

A tear starting from the tearing aid 36 g provided on the first sideedge 16 g and following the tear-line Rg, after the tear-open pouch hasbeen torn open along the predefined length Og, enters the first partialsurface portion 32 g, in which the front face of the tear-open pouch isjoined to the rear face of the tear-open pouch. Following the tear-lineRg further, the tear subsequently enters a region of the second partialsurface portion 34 g, in which the front face of the tear-open pouch andthe rear face of the tear-open pouch also may be joined together, thisnot being necessarily required. At some point, the tear then meets thematerial weakening, i.e. the cut 33 g. Due to the absence of corners inthe shape of the material weakening, there are no points where a highconcentration of stress could occur due to the notch effect, so that thetear is not able to overcome the material weakening or can do so onlywith a greatly increased exertion of force. The further spreading of thetear may thus be reliably stopped by the material weakening in thesecond partial surface portion 34 g.

It should also be mentioned here that the modification shown in FIG. 3 gcould also be easily altered to form a tear-line deflection point if theperforation 35 g at the upper longitudinal end of the cut 33 g were notprovided, but instead the cut were to taper into a point. As a result, atear reaching the cut 33 g could easily be deflected towards the uppertop edge 28 g. In this case, preferably a further web portion couldextend from the inner region surface portion 30 g to the upper top edge28 g.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a tear-open pouch according to theinvention. Similar features to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 areprovided with the same reference numerals, but increased by the number100. Moreover, the embodiment according to FIG. 2 is only describedhereinafter to the extent that it differs from the first embodimentaccording to FIG. 1, reference being expressly made to the descriptionthereof.

The second embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, differs from the firstembodiment, shown in FIG. 1, in particular in that the two inner regionsurface portions 130 on the tear-open pouch 110 do not define tear-lineend points but instead tear-line deflection points. Moreover, incontrast to the first embodiment, a web portion 142 extends in each casefrom between one of the two inner region surface portions 130 to a joinouter edge region of the tear-open pouch 110, as is already known fromthe modification of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 c. Referenceshould also be made here to the fact that a web portion in the secondembodiment may also be omitted, as is shown hereinafter with referenceto the modification shown in FIG. 3 d. Furthermore, in the tear-openpouch 110 of the second embodiment it is not provided to detachtherefrom a top portion which extends over the entire width of thetear-open pouch 110.

Because in the second embodiment a second partial surface portion 134 ofthe inner region surface portion 130 is of L-shaped configuration, ithas on the two longitudinal ends of the L shape in each case a point atwhich a concentration of stress may be easily achieved by the so-callednotch effect. These points may, therefore, serve as tear-linecontinuation points in this case, a tear coming from a specificdirection which enters the second partial surface portion 134 beingsubsequently continued in a different direction, and namely according tothe L shape at an angle of approximately 90 degrees. In the tear-openpouch 110 shown in FIG. 2, therefore, for example a tear coming from thetearing aid 136 provided on a first side edge 116, which follows a firsttear-line R1, is deflected upwards by the second partial surface portion134, approximately at right angles. The tear after the deflection thenfollows a second tear-line R2 until it reaches a further tearing aid 144provided in an upper top edge 138, which thus represents a tear-line endpoint. In this manner, a corner 146 may be relatively easily detachedfrom the tear-open pouch 110. It should be mentioned that for detachingthe corner 146 in this case the further tearing aid 144 may alsooptionally serve as a tear-line starting point and the tearing aid 136as a tear-line end point.

As the front face of the tear-open pouch 126 and the rear face of thetear-open pouch are also joined together in the web portion 142, thesecond tear-line R2 which also may be considered in a similar manner tothe first tear-line R1 as a partial portion of a total tear-line,extends exclusively in regions in which the front and rear faces of thetear-open pouch 110 are joined together, so that when tearing open onlyalong the second tear-line R2 no opening may be produced in thetear-open pouch 110. An opening is produced when tearing off the corner146 from the tear-open pouch 110 only when said pouch is torn open alongthe first tear-line R1. The opening thus has a predetermined length O inthis case too.

It remains to be mentioned that the front face of the tear-open pouch126 and the rear face of the tear-open pouch in this exemplaryembodiment each comprise a bidirectionally stretched film, the twostretching directions S1 and S2 extending substantially perpendicular toone another in order in each case to encourage spreading of the tearalong the first tear-line R1 and/or the second tear-line R2.

As the corner 146 may be completely detached from the tear-open pouch110, in the tear-open pouch 110 of the second embodiment, the pouchcontents may be emptied through the opening thus produced without a tornoff region of the pouch getting in the way. The length O of the openingwhich may be introduced is preferably selected during production of thetear-open pouch 110, depending on the pouch contents to be packaged, sothat the opening cannot become blocked when emptying the pouch.

The same applies to the inner region surface portion 130 shown on theright hand side in FIG. 2 as to the left hand inner region surfaceportion 130 described above. Naturally, however, it would be possible toprovide only one inner region surface portion 130 on the tear-open pouch110 if desired.

FIGS. 3 d to 3 e all show a left hand upper detail of the tear-openpouch 110 shown in FIG. 2, but with different modifications. Similarfeatures to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 are thus provided withthe same reference numerals in FIGS. 3 d to 3 e, but with an additionalletter d, e or f corresponding to the respective figure. Moreover, thealterations and/or modifications according to FIGS. 3 d to 3 f aredescribed hereinafter only insofar as they differ from the embodimentaccording to FIG. 2, reference being expressly made to the descriptionsthereof.

The modification shown in FIG. 3 d differs from the second embodimentshown in FIG. 2 in particular in that an inner region surface portion130 d is not peninsular but insular. As a result, when tearing off acorner 146 d from the tear-open pouch both a first opening with thelength O1 d and a second opening with the length O2 d are produced. Theprovision of the second opening may, for example, be expedient in orderto ensure that air may flow into the pouch, when pourable contents arepoured through the first opening out of said pouch.

Moreover, the modification shown in FIG. 3 d, in contrast to the secondembodiment shown in FIG. 2, has no tearing aid at an upper top edge 128d, so that only one tearing aid 136 d is available on a first side edgefor tearing off the corner 146 d. Naturally, however, in this case atearing aid could also additionally or alternatively be provided on theupper top edge 128 d.

The modification shown in FIG. 3 e differs from the second embodimentshown in FIG. 2 in particular in that a web portion does not extendbetween an inner region surface portion 130 e and a join outer edgeregion on an upper top edge 128 e. Instead, however, a web portion 142 eextends between the inner region surface portion 130 e and a join outeredge region on a first side edge 116 e of the tear-open pouch.

A tear-line R1 e extends along a centre line, extending in asubstantially linear manner, of the web portion 142 e. One stretchingdirection S1 e of the two stretching directions S1 e and S2 e of abidirectionally stretched film is thus identical to the direction inwhich the centre line of the web portion 142 e extends, in order toencourage tearing open of the pouch along the tear-line R1 e.Additionally, in the web portion 142 e shown in FIG. 3 e, two throughopenings 148 e are provided which reliably assist spreading of the tearalong the predetermined tear-line R1. It should be mentioned that thenumber and shape of through openings may vary. Also in some instances itmay be sufficient if at the corresponding points the material is merelyweakened, but not entirely removed. These measures may be carried out,if required, not only additionally but also alternatively to promotingthe spreading of a tear by the stretching of a film in the correspondingdirection. It is, however, generally preferred to assist the spreadingof the tear along the predetermined tear-line R1 by means of a linearperforation or by a linear cutout in the material from the front face ofthe tear-open pouch or/and the rear face of the tear-open pouch.

A second partial surface portion 134 e of the inner region surfaceportion 130 e has in this modification a type of L shape, in whichhowever the two limbs do not extend perfectly straight and are also notcompletely perpendicular to one another. As a result, it is alsoprovided that the two tear-lines R1 e and R2 e which are linked togethervia the tear-line deflection point defined by the second surface portion134 e, are not aligned perfectly perpendicular to one another. Moreover,therefore, the stretching directions S1 e and S2 e of thebidirectionally stretched film of the front face of the tear-open pouchand rear face of the tear-open pouch are not perpendicular to oneanother.

Also in the modification shown in FIG. 3 f, as in the modification shownin FIG. 3 e, two tear-lines R1 f and R2 f are not at right angles to oneanother. However, in the modification shown in FIG. 3 f a web portion142 f, in which the tear-line R2 f runs, extends obliquely to an uppertop edge 128 f. Thus in this case too a corner 146 f which correspondsto a substantially non right angled quadrilateral may be detached fromthe tear-open pouch.

As in the modification shown in FIG. 3 e, the modification shown in FIG.3 f also has a through opening 148 f in the web portion 142 f, in orderto promote the spreading of the tear along the tear-line R2 f,specifically in addition to promoting the spreading of the tear in thisdirection by means of a bidirectionally stretched film in which astretching direction S2 f corresponds to the direction of the tear-lineR2 f.

A second partial surface portion 134 f of the inner region surfaceportion also does not have an L shape but a slotted shape extending in asubstantially linear manner. This slotted shape which extends in alinear manner thus extends in the same direction as a web portion 142 f.Thus a tear proceeding from a tearing aid 136 f, which reaches thesecond partial surface portion 134 f, may be slightly deflected so thatthe tear subsequently extends through the web portion 142 f to an uppertop edge 128 f. However, since a corresponding directional deflection ofthe tear-line would not work in the reverse direction in the presentcase, because of the specific shape and arrangement of the secondpartial surface portion 134 f, a tearing aid is not provided on theupper top edge 128 f.

1. Tear-open pouch (10; 110) comprising a front face of the tear-openpouch (26; 126) defined by an outer edge and a rear face of thetear-open pouch defined by an outer edge, the outer edges thereof beingjoined together in at least one join outer edge region of the tear-openpouch (10; 110), a starting point for a predetermined tear-line (R; Ra;Rb; Rc; R1, R2; R1 d, R2 d; R1 e, R2 e; R1 f, R2 f; Rg) being providedin such a join outer edge region, characterised in that the front faceof the tear-open pouch (26) and the rear face of the tear-open pouch arealso joined together at least in portions in an inner region surfaceportion (30; 30 a; 30 b; 30 c; 30 g) arranged spaced apart from theouter edges thereof, and in that the inner region surface portion (30;30 a; 30 b; 30 c; 30 g) defines a predetermined tear-line end point, inwhich the tear-line (R; Ra; Rb; Rc; Rg) terminates, the tear-line (R;Ra; Rb; Rc; Rg) extending between the tear-line starting point and theinner region surface portion (30; 30 a; 30 b; 30 c; 30 g) throughsurface portions of the tear-open pouch (10) which are not joinedtogether.
 2. Tear-open pouch (110) according to the preamble of claim 1,characterised in that the front face of the tear-open pouch (126) andthe rear face of the tear-open pouch are also joined together at leastin portions in an inner region surface portion (130; 130 d; 130 e; 130f) arranged spaced apart from the outer edges thereof, and in that theinner region surface portion (130; 130 d; 130 e; 130 f) defines apredetermined tear-line deflection point, in which the tear-line (R1,R2; R1 d, R2 d; R1 f, R2 f) is deflected, in order to terminate in atear-line end point provided in a join outer edge region of thetear-open pouch (110), the tear-line (R1, R2; R1 d, R2 d; R1 f, R2 f)extending between the tear-line starting point and the inner regionsurface portion (130; 130 d; 130 e; 130 f) or/and between the innerregion surface portion (130; 130 d; 130 e; 130 f) and the tear-line endpoint through surface portions of the tear-open pouch (110) which arenot joined together.
 3. Tear-open pouch (10; 110) according to claim 1,characterised in that the inner region surface portion is of insularconfiguration (30; 30 a; 130 d; 30 g), being surrounded all around bysurface portions of the tear-open pouch (10; 110) which are not joinedtogether.
 4. Tear-open pouch (10; 110) according to claim 1,characterised in that the inner region surface portion (30 b; 30 c; 130;130 e; 130 f) is of peninsular configuration, in that a web portion (42b; 42 c; 142; 142 e; 142 f) of surface portions of the tear-open pouch(10; 110) which are joined together extends from the inner regionsurface portion (30 b; 30 c; 130; 130 e; 130 f) to a join outer edgeregion of the tear-open pouch (10; 110).
 5. Tear-open pouch (10; 110)according to claim 2, characterised in that the inner region surfaceportion (30; 30 a; 30 b; 30 c; 30 g; 130; 130 d; 130 e; 130 f) comprisesat least one first partial surface portion (32; 32 a; 32 b; 32 c; 32 g;132; 132 d; 132 e; 132 f) and one second partial surface portion (34; 34a; 34 b; 34 c; 34 g; 134; 134 d; 134 e; 134 f) which have tear spreadingproperties which are different from one another.
 6. Tear-open pouch (10;110) according to claim 5, characterised in that the second partialsurface portion (34; 34 a; 34 b; 34 c; 34 g; 134; 134 d; 134 e; 134 f)comprises a material weakening in the front face of the tear-open pouch(26; 126) or/and in the rear face of the tear-open pouch.
 7. Tear-openpouch (10; 110) according to claim 6, characterised in that the materialweakening in the second partial surface portion (34; 34 a; 34 b; 34 c;134; 134 d; 134 e; 134 f) is of planar configuration.
 8. Tear-open pouch(10; 110) according to claim 6, characterised in that the materialweakening (33 g) is formed in a linear manner in the second partialsurface portion (34 g).
 9. Tear-open pouch (10; 110) according to claim6, characterised in that the material weakening in the second partialsurface portion (34; 34 a; 34 b; 34 c; 34 g; 134; 134 d; 134 e; 134 f)is configured in a substantially circular or semi-circular orcrescent-shaped or L-shaped or linear manner.
 10. Tear-open pouch (10;110) according to claim 6, characterised in that the material weakeningin the second partial surface portion (34; 34 a; 34 b; 34 c; 134; 134 d;134 e; 134 f) is formed by the removal of material on the front face ofthe tear-open pouch (26; 126) or/and on the rear face of the tear-openpouch.
 11. Tear-open pouch (10; 110) according to claim 6, characterisedin that the material weakening in the second partial surface portion (32g) is formed, preferably exclusively, by a displacement of material ofthe front face of the tear-open pouch (26) or/and of the rear face ofthe tear-open pouch.
 12. Tear-open pouch (10; 110) according to claim 6,characterised in that the material weakening in the second partialsurface portion (34; 34 a; 34 b; 34 c; 34 g; 134; 134 d; 134 e; 134 f)penetrates the front face of the tear-open pouch (26; 126) or/and therear face of the tear-open pouch, preferably the front face of thetear-open pouch (26; 126) and the rear face of the tear-open pouch. 13.Tear-open pouch (10; 110) according to claim 5, characterised in thatthe second partial surface portion (34; 34 a; 34 b; 34 c; 34 g; 134; 134d; 134 e; 134 f) is surrounded at least in portions, preferablyentirely, by the first partial surface portion (32; 32 a; 32 b; 32 c; 32g; 132; 132 d; 132 e; 132 f).
 14. Tear-open pouch (110) according toclaim 5, characterised in that the second partial surface portion (134;134 d; 134 e; 134 f) has a tear-line continuation point.
 15. Tear-openpouch (10; 110) according to claim 1, characterised in that thetear-line starting point is formed by a tearing aid (36; 36 a; 36 b; 36c; 36 g; 136; 144; 136 d; 136 e; 144 e; 136 f).
 16. Tear-open pouch (10;110) according to claim 1, characterised in that the front face of thetear-open pouch (26; 126) or/and the rear face of the tear-open pouch,a) comprises and/or comprise a film made of stretched plastics material,the stretching direction (S; Sa; Sb; Sc; S1, S2; S1 e, S2 e; S1 f, S2 f)of the plastics film defining a preferred direction of the spreading ofthe tear or/and b) comprises and/or comprise at least one materialweakening, in particular a stamped portion or recess, extending in apreferred direction of the spreading of the tear.
 17. Tear-open pouch(10; 110) according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises atleast two inner region surface portions (30, 30; 130, 130), which areassigned to edge portions spaced apart from one another and preferablyopposing one another.
 18. Tear-open pouch (10) according to claim 1,characterised in that it further comprises at a further join outer edgeregion at least one further tear-line starting point (38, 40) of afurther tear-line (G), which serves for tearing off a top portion (24)of the tear-open pouch (10), the top portion (24) which may be torn offpreferably comprising the inner region surface portion and/or the atleast two inner region surface portions (30, 30).
 19. Tear-open pouch(10; 110) according to claim 1, characterised in that it is made of amaterial which is suitable for use in a microwave heating device. 20.Tear-open pouch (10; 110) according to claim 1, characterised in that itis a stand up pouch.
 21. Use of a tear-open pouch (10; 110) according toclaim 20, for heating up meals, in particular in a microwave heatingdevice.